In last weeks blog we quoted the word from Rom 2:1 that God will not excuse me when I use my natural judgement against another. We also stated how my pride expresses its self by natural judgement. Prov: 16v 5-7 says, Everyone that is proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord; though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished. By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by fear of the Lord men depart from evil. When a man’s ways please the Lord, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.
I pray that the Lord by his Spirit will give us revelation on how important these scriptures are to assuring his promise of abundant life towards us. Terms and conditions apply!!
First of all, let us consider the severity of the words in Rom: 2 v 1 and Prov: 16 v 5. INEXCUSABLE and ABOMINATION. When the Word of God uses such strong and severe words as these to express how He feels about our condition, surely we should give serious consideration as to whether they apply to me, and ask the Holy Spirit to search my heart!
How many of my prayerful requests remain unanswered because of my judgments I hold against others? God will not excuse me unless I repent.
For a few moments let us meditate on the Prov: 16 v 5-7 passage…Though hand join in hand he shall not be unpunished. Well, in the Old Testament, the consequences for evil and sinful behaviour are as a penal punishment. In the New Testament the Lord Jesus brings a different dispensation. When he said on Calvary, “It is finished”, He sanctified us once and for all by the shedding of His blood. (Heb: 10 v 10 and 10 v 14)
However, Heb: 12 v 5-6 tells us not to despise the chastening of the Lord and that He chastens every son that He loves. Do I understand the difference between punishment and chastisement? Punishment is penal. I must pay the penalty for my sin. Chastisement is the correction coming from the loving hand of my heavenly Father, who’s son Jesus has already paid the ultimate penalty when He took my place on Calvary.
……….Though hand join in hand. A child after being scolded by a parent for wrong doing may seek to appease the parent by joining their hand in the parents hand. But if the parent seeks to teach the child correction he/she must still admonish chastisement in some form or other. Chastisement is an expression of love! By mercy and truth iniquity is purged. God in His love and mercy will correct me and His truth will purge the iniquitous conduct of prideful judgement which produces adverse consequences in my life.
Take a look at all the difficult situations in your life and ask the Holy Spirit to show you how many of them are consequences of wrong judgments in your choices or judgments of others. We often quote that God will permit in His wisdom, that which He could prevent in His power. How does He permit situations? Well, there is a divine law in operation. What a man sows he shall also reap (Gal: 6 v 7) Just as the physical law of gravity works, what goes up must come down, so does the divine law of sowing and reaping work. God cannot make void His word, else He would not be God.
Take the issue of sickness. God is not the author of sickness. But 1 Cor: 29-31 inclusive says that he that eateth unworthily eateth damnation to himself not discerning the Lord’s body. For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep (or die.) (Be careful, the word says many, not all.) If we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged. So, how do I eat damnation to myself, thereby causing weakness and sickness? Well, the first commandment in Genesis: 2 v 17 is that man should not eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. When I judge, I eat of the wrong source thereby eating damnation to myself. The Prov: 16 passage then goes on to say that when a man’s ways please the Lord, He even makes his enemies to be at peace with him! The peace that Jesus gives us is produced in my heart and in my relationships when my ways or conduct please the Lord.
Please don’t misunderstand what I am saying. Not all adverse or difficult situations mean I am in error in my walk with God. I can have peace and joy in spite of my circumstances which passes all my understanding. But I cannot steal the presence of God. If I have peace and joy I have God’s approval. If I have no peace and joy, I need to examine what I am believing because Rom: 15 v 13 declares…Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost. What I believe rules me, I do not rule what I believe.
KNOW GOD…KNOW PEACE
NO GOD…NO PEACE.
1 Thess: 5 v 23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
